Taste magazine is following in the footsteps of its Bauer stablemates Cleo and Metro with a new web presence.
The title’s first site under taste.co.nz kicked off in 2005 along with the print magazine, with content later moving to MSN’s Recipe Finder site as part of previous owner ACP’s relationship with MSN.
The Taste team now has a lot more control over the content with the new Taste.co.nz site and the end of the MSN relationship after ACP’s acquisition by German giant Bauer Media, says strategic sales manager Neil Bolton.
The burgeoning food category made Taste a logical choice to be one of the early cabs off the digital rank for Bauer, says Bolton.
“Food is a growing trend and people are getting more and more into understanding where their food comes from and cooking for themselves,” says Bolton. “It’s such a massive category globally, so it made sense.”
The title has 1975 Twitter followers and 4691 on Facebook.
The new Taste site follows the launch of Cleo.co.nz, Metroeats.co.nz and Metroarts.co.nz.
It will give viewers the chance to browse recipes in Taste‘s archive, which is now more than 7000-strong. The editorial team, led by editor in chief Emily Simpson, will manage the content and will constantly update the archive, Bolton says.
The site was originally scheduled to launch on Monday but was brought forward to coincide with the release of subscriber copies of the current edition, he says.
Kenwood is a foundation sponsor for the website, with Peppers resorts and another advertiser also signed up. “We’re hoping to see lots of magazine advertisers and new advertisers come on board,” says Bolton.
The site was created by Bauer in New Zealand and uses responsive design.
Simpson says the simple, sophisticated look is an extension of the Taste brand.
Members of the Taste team will create content for the site by cooking the recipes featured in the magazine issue.
The website will include advice, travel, wine reviews, cocktail recipes, chef interviews, glimpses into kitchens, product showcases, a newsfeed and competitions.
The print magazine had 17,777 average net paid sales to 30 Sept this year, down from 20,282 to 31 March. Its average net paid circulation to 30 September was 19,459 down from 21,283 to 31 March.
Bauer today confirmed it had acquired APN-owned magazines The NZ Listener, NZ Woman’s Weekly, Simply You, Simply You Living and Creme, subject to Commerce Commission approval.
